A Call to Action for a Better Approach to School Discipline in Westchester Schools: Solutions, Not Suspensions

A Call to Action for a Better Approach to School Discipline in Westchester Schools: Solutions, Not Suspensions

The Westchester community calls upon our public schools to adopt disciplinary policies and practices that focus on solutions and severely restrict the use of out-of-school suspensions. Specifically, the most effective school discipline will achieve two goals. It will create order and engage all students in school and in learning. Effective school discipline must:

Lead to Solutions - helping troubled students to resolve underlying problems so that educational continuity can be maintained.
Promote Engagement of All Students – recognizing that student engagement is key to prevention and effective intervention.
Ensure that Disciplinary Interventions Teach Students – better behavior, responsibility and compassion for others.
Utilize a Range of Disciplinary Interventions that are appropriate to the student’s age, disability, the circumstances of the incident AND that limit use of out-of-school suspensions to incidents that pose an immediate safety threat.
Promote Communication and Partnership with Parents

We, the undersigned, urge School Boards, Superintendents and other community leaders to adopt a Solutions-Not Suspensions approach to school discipline:

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Since 1982, Student Advocacy has worked to get kids on track to school success. Many of the children we help are struggling to overcome obstacles created by a disability, family problem, poverty, or youthful mistakes. Our services include advocating for children to obtain the help each child needs at school, helping families access community services critical to school success, educating parents and professionals about educational rights, and advocating to change educational policies and practices.